Poly-pharmacokinetic strategy represented the synergy effects of bioactive compounds in a traditional Chinese medicine formula, Si Shen Wan and its separated recipes to normal and colitis rats.

Si Shen Wan is a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula, which has been used to treat chronic colitis for thousands of years. Many research and experience show that Si Shen Wan was developed by the combination of two sets of "Herb Pairs," Er Shen Wan and Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis Powder. This research aimed to revealing the effective substances, guide the clinical treatment, and represent the synergy effects from the view of pharmacokinetics. An ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for simultaneous quantification of 26 main bioactive compounds in normal and colitis rat plasma after oral administration of Si Shen Wan and its "Herb Pairs" extract. The method validation results illustrated that the experimental method was reliable and reproducible for quantitative determination of the biological samples. The pharmacokinetic behaviors in different groups were compared and discussed comprehensively, which indicated that the treatment of Si Shen Wan has a superiority in synthetic action of the "Herb Pairs" for the higher peak concentrations and bioavailability of some mainly components. Furthermore, the synergy effect was still existing backed up again for the longer eliminate time and a better bioavailability in colitis groups. The pharmacokinetics research of multiple components in Si Shen Wan and its "Herb Pairs" supplied a significant basis for better understanding the metabolic mechanism of these formulas in both normal and pathological state.